Commercial Horticulture Newsletter by MU Extension Aug. 26, 2022: Topics- Growing Mushrooms on Logs + Pumpkin Insects + Nitrogen Fixing Cover Crops +Tank Washing Veggies + Chinese Chestnut Production in MO! + MO Tomato School Recordings + Upcoming Class Offerings + Much More Here.
Horticulture Newsletter by MU Extension Aug 12, 2022 Topics: Specialty Crop Business Management Webinar 4 Session Series + Urban Ag. Matching Grant + FAQ's on Flooded Produce + Trap Cropping in Summer Squash + Upcoming Class Offerings & More! Details Here.
'Phlox bugs' - Integrated Pest Management Strategies by Missouri Botanical Garden: The phlox plant bug, Lopidea davisi, is an eye catching true bug. It is reddish orange and black. It is a piercing sucking insect with a long proboscis. It feeds mainly on phlox and can cause serious damage to phlox. Learn more here.
Black walnut - This nut could have a real impact on the Midwestern economy, especially in a state like Missouri, which is the leading producer of black walnuts in the world. Learn more about black walnuts in Missouri from the Missouri Dept. of Conservation.
'Squirrels - Integrated Pest Management Strategies' by Missouri Botanical Garden: Three squirrel species are commonly identified as living in Missouri and surrounding areas: the fox squirrel, Sciurus niger, the gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, and the southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans. Unfortunately, very little can be done to control squirrels, especially in areas where oak and nut trees provide a fairly predictable source of food. However, read on to learn more here.
'Preventing and Controlling Damage Caused by Cottontail Rabbits' Robert A. Pierce II, Fish and Wildlife State Specialist, MU School of Natural Resources: Rabbits are opportunistic feeders that will eat readily available plants during spring and summer. Read on to learn more here.
A common problem! 'Opossums and Gardening: A Few Things to Know' by Roger Di Silvestro for National Wildlife Federation Blog, Updated Aug 20, 2019: The opossum is one of the most frequently encountered U.S. wildlife species, showing up in... cities and suburbs—and in backyard gardens, where it may play some important roles in controlling garden pests and even in limiting ticks. Learn more about 'Opossums and Gardening' here.
'Squash Vine Borers - Integrated Pest Management Strategies' by Missouri Botanical Garden: squash vine borer, Melittia cucurbitae, is native to Missouri. It is a serious pest of both summer and winter squash. The insect will also attack cucumbers, pumpkins, muskmelons, and watermelons. Lear more here.
'Flea Beetle - Integrated Pest Management Strategies' by Missouri Botanical Garden: Small round holes in leaves and insects that jump like fleas are two signs that a plant is infested with flea beetles. These shiny oval beetles may be black, brown, bronze, or striped and are only 1/10 inch long. They quickly leap out of sight when disturbed. There are several species of flea beetle. Learn more here.
'Bagworms - Including Integrated Pest Management Strategies' by Missouri Botanical Garden: Bagworms, (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) produce conspicuous spindle-shaped cocoons on trees and shrubs throughout the U.S. feeding on over 128 plant species. Most commonly attacked plants are arborvitae, red cedar, and other juniper species. They also feed on fir, maple, juneberry, buckeye, persimmon, ginkgo, honeylocust, larch, sweet gum, spruce, pine, sycamore, poplar, oak, locust, willow, and hemlock. Learn more here.
'Identify Butterflies' by Gardens With Wings: Butterfly identification can be tricky. On this page we’ll help you identify butterflies you may see in your garden or in the field by their shape, wingspan, upperside (opened) and underside (closed) wing color, common name, and family name. What Butterflies Can I Attract to My Garden? "Enter Your Zip Code" here.
'Raccoons - Integrated Pest Management' by Missouri Botanical Garden: The raccoon, Procyon lotor, is a stocky nocturnal mammal distinctly marked with a prominent black ‘mask’ over the eyes and a heavily furred, ringed tail. They are omnivorous and eat a variety of foods... Raccoons may cause severe damage and be quite a nuisance. Learn more here.
'What is Corn Smut & Disease Management?' Good question, this information should help you. 'Common smut on corn' by Dean Malvick, pathologist for UMN Extension: Common smut is common in most places where corn is grown, but does not usually cause significant economic losses. Learn more including disease management here.
'Rainscaping Guide' by Missouri Botanical Garden: What Is Rainscaping? Rainscaping is any combination of plantings, water features, catch basins, permeable pavement and other activities that manage stormwater as close as possible to where it falls, rather than moving it someplace else. Click here to explore the range of rainscaping possibilities.
'Tomato hornworms in home gardens' by UMN Extension including: What are the parasites of tomato hornworms? Tomato hornworms are also parasitized by a number of insects. One of the most common is a small braconid wasp, Cotesia congregatus. Larvae hatching from wasp eggs are laid on the hornworm. The wasp larvae feed on the inside of the hornworm until the wasp is ready to pupate. The cocoons look like white rice protruding from the hornworm's body. Learn more about hornworms here.
POLYPHEMUS MOTH (Antheraea polyphemus) by MDC: The polyphemus is the second-largest Missouri moth. It was named after Homer's giant one-eyed monster in The Odyssey because of the big eyespot on each hindwing. Learn more here.
'Supersized moth looks like a hummingbird' by Linda Geist for MU Extension July 25, 2022: The hummingbird moth is the Superman of the summer flower garden. This supersized hoverer is a fascinating and perplexing pollinator, says MU Extension horticulturist and entomologist Tamra Reall. With a span of 2-6 inches, the moth looks like a miniature hummingbird Read more here.
'Solitary Bees and Wasps' by Chris Helzer for The Prairie Ecologist Photos of the Week July 31, 2022: Most of North America’s bee and wasp species are solitary, as opposed to colonial. That means that instead of being part of a cooperative group of workers supporting a queen, single female bees and wasps act on their own. Learn more with text and photo gallery here.
'Meet the Appalachian Apple Hunter Who Rescued 1,000 ‘Lost’ Varieties' by Eric J. Wallace for Gastro Obscura June 3, 2021: Tom Brown’s retirement hobby is a godsend for chefs, conservationists, and cider. becoming the world's most accomplished heirloom apple-hunter brought a steep learning curve. At farmers markets and other events, Brown displays a variety of apples to incite pomaceous (of or relating to apples) conversations. Learn more here.
VIDEO: 'Going wild over wildflowers' by Mo Rocca for CBS Sunday Morning July 31, 2022: For many people Crested Butte, Colorado is a winter wonderland, but during the summers, there's another spectacular site that has people heading for the hills: wonderous wildflowers. The blooms are so celebrated here, there's even an annual festival. Mo Rocca visits this former mining town to learn why it's the "wildflower capital" of Colorado. Watch short YouTube video.
'Chiggers' Revised by Richard M. Houseman MU Division of Plant Sciences: A chigger is the parasitic larval stage of a common mite... Several species of chiggers exist in the U.S., Trombicula alfreddugesi is most commonly encountered. Learn more including the best defense here.
'Mitigation of Herbicide Injury with Windbreaks' by Michele Warmund, MU Plant Science & Technology Aug 1, 2022: Other than growing plants in protective structures or planting crops and cultivars that are less susceptible to herbicide injury, there are few short-term solutions to avoid plant damage when herbicides drift onto your property. Learn more here.
'Home Fruit Production but other readers may also be having peach problems. 'Peach and Nectarine Culture' by Michele Warmund, Fruit State Specialist, MU Division of Plant Sciences: The peach has often been called the Queen of Fruits. Its beauty is surpassed only by its delightful flavor and texture. Peach trees require considerable care, however, and cultivars should be carefully selected. Learn more here.
'Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)' by Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Member of the grape family, it is a deciduous, woody vine that is commonly called Virginia creeper or woodbine. It is native to eastern and central North America south to Mexico. It occurs statewide in Missouri, typically being located in open areas of ravines, valleys, rich woods, thickets, rocky bluffs, hillsides and fencerows. Learn more here.
'How to get rid of moles in your yard' by UMN Extension: Most experts agree that trapping is the most effective way to control moles in a garden. Although trapping moles is not difficult, it does require a general understanding of the mole's tunnel system and learning how to use the right trap effectively. Learn more here.
'Plants respond to heat differently than humans' by Linda Geist for MU Extension July 27, 2022: Extreme heat affects plants differently than humans. With triple-digit temperatures this summer, grain crop growers should understand how heat affects plants, says MU Extension agronomist Bill Wiebold. Read more here.
'How to help your trees recover from drought' by Hank Stelzer, MU Extension state forestry specialist Aug. 2, 2022: Dry soil conditions can significantly reduce the life span of valuable landscape trees. Because they are difficult and expensive to replace, your trees need attention during and after periods of drought. Read more here.
'Drought Injury to Landscape Plants' by David Trinklein, MU Plant Science & Technology Aug 8, 2022: The blistering temperatures over the past several weeks have added to the peril of landscape plants. The immediate effects of drought on smaller plants are evident as they yellow and die. Plants with a more extensive root system normally show less immediate symptoms even though damage still is occurring. Learn more here.
'Managing Lawns and Turfgrass | MU Extension by Brad Fresenburg and Lee Miller MU Division of Plant Sciences. It takes some time and effort to develop a lawn with the right mixture of turfgrass species and varieties for your landscape and situation. Learn more here.
Hearts of Gold Redbud! With the "touch of golden color" in the leaves, it's stunning even in the summer heat. Learn more about the Hearts of Gold (Cercis canadensis) cultivar from MoBot Plant Finder.
'Hobby Greenhouses' by Univ of GA Extension Topics Include: Introduction; Types of Greenhouses; Locating Your Greenhouse; Designing Your Greenhouse; Types of Frames; Beds for Growing Small Plants; Greenhouse Heating; Greenhouse Ventilation and Cooling; Other Greenhouse Necessities; Plans; References. Continue reading here.
'Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata)' by Missouri Dept of Conservation Field Guide: A Missouri Native, the handsome violet-blue flower spikes of pickerel weed stand out vividly at the edges of ponds. One of our few blue-flowering pond plants, pickerel weed is easy to identify just by its color and habitat. Learn more here.
'Discovering Bacterial Wetwood' by Scott A Sjolander, Penn State Extension Educator, Urban and Community Forestry Aug 11, 2022; Also called slime flux, this disease affects several species of trees. It's a disease commonly affecting the central core and bark of shade and ornamental trees. Example photo below: Light colored streaking on elm bark created by bacteria oozing from the interior of the tree. Find out more here.
'Insects & Pollinators' by USDA NRCS: Learn more - Pollinators by Numbers + How Animal Pollination Works + Pollinators Are in Trouble + How Farmers & Gardeners Can Help Pollinators. Learn more here.
POISON IVY (Toxicodendron radicans) by MDC -- It's one of nature's most irritating plants. Learning how to identify it is one of the best ways to avoid coming into contact with it in this video. For more information review the MDC Field Guide here.
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) by Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Commonly known as pokeweed, common poke or scoke, is a vigorous, herbaceous perennial that typically grows to 4-10’ tall with a spread to 3-5’ wide. NOTE: pokeweed is generally considered to be an invasive weed in many areas. Moreover, all parts of this plant (mature leaves, fruits and roots) are poisonous to humans, with the only exception being... Continue reading here.
'American Chestnut DNA Analysis Confirms Rare Tree at Coverdale Farm Preserve' by Ian Stewart, Joe Sebastiani and Matt Bailey for Delaware Nature Society Nov 1, 2019: Bill McAvoy, the state botanist. Bill confirmed that it was indeed a healthy American chestnut (Castanea dentata)! ... Based on its diameter, he estimated it to be at least 50 years old. Read on here.
'FROST FLOWERS' by MDC: Missouri plants known to produce frost flowers include dittany (Cunila origanoides), stinkweed (Pluchea camphorata, not widespread in MO), and white crownbeard (Verbesina virginica). Scientists don’t know what it is about these species that allow them to produce frost flowers. What exactly are frost flowers? Learn more here.
'Black-and-Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)' by MDC Field Guide | Other Common Names: Black and Yellow Argiope; Garden Orbweaver; Writing Spider; Corn Spider; Zipper Spider. The black-and-yellow garden spider is commonly found near houses and in gardens. A "garden friend" these harmless spiders are excellent creatures for children and adults to watch. Learn more here.
'Of Mopheads and Lace-Caps: The Colorful World of Hydrangeas' by David Trinklein MU Plant Science & Technology Aug 23, 2022: Those billowy white orbs seen on flowering shrubs this time of the year are not puffs of cotton candy. Instead, they are the flowering structures of Hydrangea paniculata, which is one of a number of hydrangea species that do well in Missouri. Learn more.
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